“A collection of profound and epic album reviews and musical articles by former astronaut and brain surgeon, Alasdair Kennedy. Reaching levels of poetry that rival Keats and Blake, the following reviews affirm Alasdair to be a prodigy, a genius and a god whose opinion is always objectively right. He is also without a doubt the most modest man in the universe.” - Alasdair Kennedy

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Wednesday, 26 November 2014

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 26/11/2014: Wu-Tang Clan, Faith No More, AC/DC and more...

It’s comeback week. Wu-Tang Clan, Faith No More,
AC/DC and Gwen Stefani have all returned with new singles. As usual, I divide
the good’uns and bad’uns. Is bad’un even a word? Too late, I’ve typed it out
now, there’s no going back...

THE BEST

'Necklace' - Wu-Tang Clan

‘Brother, I think that
necklace is causing you too much trouble’. I’ll admit that the sample gets
repeated a few too many times, but otherwise the beat being laid down on these
New Yorkers' latest single is phenomenal. There’s a mysterious, worn feel to it
like it was discovered on a dusty cassette tape in an ancient vault somewhere. Needless
to say the verses over the top are insane too. Bring on A Better Tomorrow. I’m belted up and ready.

'Drown' – Marika Hackman

British folk artist, Marika Hackman, plays with some
interesting vocal harmonies on this brooding, melancholy track that has all the
stillness of being underwater and the hopelessness of realising you’re drowning.
There couldn’t be a more disturbingly fitting video.

'Motherfucker' - Faith No More

90s alt/experimental-rock band, Faith No More, are back
after a decade and a half with this profanely titled but marvellously crafted
new single. The triumphant instrumentation and Mike Patton’s layered vocals
build up into a satisfying guitar solo. It rocks like a [insert track title
here]!

'Rock or Bust' - AC/DC

They may be getting on a bit, but they’ve still got more
energy than most young rockers today. This is a monster of a riff and I’m
surprised by the freshness of Angus’s distortion tone. Yes, this is classic Back-in-Black-era
acca dacca, but the production’s 2014.

THE WORST

'Spark the
Fire' - Gwen Stefani

The No-Doubt-frontwoman-turned-solo-pop-icon has managed to
stay looking and sounding young for twenty years, I’ll give her that. However,
this new track is just plain dull, not helped by the monotonous production
provided by Pharrell. Also, it really doesn’t sound like Gwen is singing ‘spark’.
Is pyrophilia a thing?

Trae Tha Truth – Try
Me ft. Young Thug

Young Thug is like the asshole you don’t invite to your
party because he’s guaranteed to wreck your parents furniture, piss off your
friends, kill your family pet and then pass out on your bed in a pool of vomit.
This track was alright until Trae let Young Thug come in and fuck things up,
slurring gibberish awkwardly over the beat like he’s choking on his tongue and
barking ‘ratatatat’ a few times because he can’t think of anything better to spit.
Trae's disappointment, although he tries hard to conceal it, is clear.